In response to my prior blog post wondering which of the state’s wealthier candidates for Governor or Congress will promise if elected not to accept a salary, Democrat Ned Lamont of Greenwich sent me the following:
“I learned in business that when your bottom line is in trouble, responsibility begins at the top. In my Administration, that’s where we’ll start. I’m going to take a hard look at the salaries of the state’s senior management, and make cuts where necessary. And if I’m elected, I will lead by example, forgoing a salary until we pass an honest budget.”
Back in January Greenwich Republican Tom Foley made a similar promise.
So who’s next?
UPDATE: Republican gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel’s camp sent me the following:
“Chris Powell (of the Journal Inquirer newspaper in Manchester) said it best: ‘Greenwich millionaire Thomas C. Foley proclaims that if he is elected he won’t take the office’s $150,000 salary. Voters are supposed to be impressed that Foley would forgo what to him would be only pocket change. Judging from his first position paper, ‘A Plan Forward for Connecticut,’ Foley wouldn’t deserve much of a salary anyway.” – Chris Powell, Journal Inquirer, “Governor Candidate is Truly Clueless,” 2/1/10.”
Easy to say for those 2 candidates who are the wealthiest in the field and also choose to self fund their campaigns. What’s a measly $150K when you are worth what they are?! What a joke of a pledge…
Comment by Roxy — March 18th, 2010 @ 9:36 am
This is silly, Brian. First of all, a the $150,000 in savings would make up 0.0000005% of the projected 2011 deficit. Furthermore, are you suggesting that only those who can afford not to take the salary should be considered. My current favorite candidate, Rudy Marconi, had the lowest income of all candidates in the recent Hearst survey. But he is the only one putting forward good ideas. I suggest you spend your time on something that matters.
Comment by eatsleepct — March 18th, 2010 @ 1:11 pm